Protect Yourself Against Credit Card Fraud

In today’s crazy information age, your credit card details are pretty much always at risk from theft. luckily, you can try and avoid credit card fraud by keeping your credit card information extra safe. The best policy is to always be on guard for scammers who may try to trick you into giving up your credit card details, always ask yourself – Do they need this information? What will this information give them access too?

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Keep your credit cards safe

This might sound simple, silly or just damn right obvious, but one of the simplest ways to avoid credit card fraud is by keeping your credit cards safe from thieves. That’s right, place your credit cards in a purse or wallet close to your body, that way it can’t be stolen and used without your knowledge.

• Its best to carry only the one or two credit and debit cards you’ll be using that day, leave all your other credit cards at home.
• Beware that thieves can take pictures of your credit card with a camera or cell phone, so don’t leave your credit card exposed any longer than necessary.
• After you make a purchase put your credit card away immediately. Confirm you have your credit card back in your possession before you leave the store or restaurant.

Shred anything with your credit card number

People to often throw things away without thinking, don’t toss your credit card billing statements directly into the trash, remember that they typically have your full credit card number. It’s always best to Shred them and the same thing applies to old credit cards that have expired or been cancelled. What’s more, you can go a step further (but it’s not required) and put the shredded pieces of paper in different trash bags for the extra safety.

Avoid giving out your credit card details

Ask yourself why people need that information, only give your credit card number or other sensitive information on calls you initiate. What’s more only use the telephone numbers listed on the back of your credit card, don’t google search, as you don’t know if the website is legit. Lastly, don’t return calls to a phone number left on your answering machine or sent to you in an email or text message.

Check the credit card receipt

It’s the easiest scam in the world when the store assistant inputs a larger dollar amount or asks you to sign a blank receipt. To verify the amount on your credit card receipt before signing it, If you get a credit card receipt that has blank spaces in it, write $0 in those spaces or draw through them before putting your signature on the card.

Credit Card Online Safety

Yes ladies and gentlemen, don’t click on emails from anyone that looks like your bank, credit card company, or other business who uses your personal information, even if the email looks legitimate. These emails and links are often whats called phishing scams and the scammers want to trick you into entering your login information on their fake website.

Always check for https:// in the address bar and a lock in the lower right corner of your internet browser, this makes sure the connection is secure. This ensures no-one reading the information you are typing.

Report lost or stolen credit cards immediately

You’ll be amazed at how long it takes people to report a stolen or lost card. We’ve all gone home and checked the house first… However, the sooner you report a missing credit card the sooner your credit card issuer can cancel your credit card and prevent fraudulent charges. A good practice is to write down your credit card companies’ customer service number, so you have them if your credit cards are ever missing.

Use strong passwords and keep them safe

In today’s online world, we tend to store our credit card details in a number of places. For example, you may have saved your credit card details on Amazon, so you can make one-click purchases. Therefore make sure you use strong passwords – as the tools ask, please use a combination of upper- and lower-case characters, numbers, and even characters – and avoid writing or sharing your password (no sticky notes on your computer screen).

Review your billing statements

Fraudsters are smart and sometimes they use a credit card over a period of time, with small charges each month (restaurants, online purchases etc). So look out for unauthorised charges on your monthly statements on your credit card, as these are the first sign of credit card fraud. If you notice a charge you didn’t make, no matter how small, report the charge to your credit card issuer immediately.

Check Petrol stations and ATMs for credit card skimmers

Skimmers are the fraudsters best friend, as they can efficiently capture thousands of credit card details before being found and destroyed. Credit card skimming devices can be added to any reader, including petrol pumps or ATMs. These skimmers capture and store your credit card information, skimmers are placed over the regular credit card swipe, so if anything looks off about the place you’re swiping your credit card, go to another petrol station or ATM.

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